Land behind a Stone house is set to become part of a garden – but a turning point in the road will be retained after residents objected to its potential loss.
Part of the land at Park House Drive has also previously been used as a play area by children, members of Stafford Borough Council’s planning committee heard on Wednesday, the 20th of March.
But the land is privately owned, councillors heard, and a section is now set to become garden area for a property in Westover Drive. Planning officers recommended the change of use for approval ahead of Wednesday’s meeting.
A report to the committee said:
“The site is essentially the northern end of a T-shaped turning head for Park House Drive. This roadway was originally left to provide a vehicular access for the 20 houses subsequently built post 2004, known as Westover Drive.
“This access point was not utilised due to it being deemed substandard from a visibility point of view for the additional traffic that would be generated. The housing site was subsequently approved with its own access off Lichfield Road; this left the turning area as surplus to requirements and has been used by residents for parking, turning and children’s play area etc.”
Stone Councillor Philip Leason called in the application for consideration by the planning committee. He said
“Originally, the residents in Park House Drive objected to this on a number of points; first of all, the reduction of the turning point in the road, and this was also objected to by Highways.
“The plan has been amended so the turning point will still be there, and that objection has been removed. The residents were also concerned about the loss of a play area -this piece of land was used by children and visiting grandchildren.”
Planning committee members approved the application after hearing that the change of use would now only include the “soft” areas of the site, not the existing paths or road.
The report said: “The gateway that was originally proposed for vehicles has now been removed from the scheme, with only a pedestrian gate being proposed.”
